BBC to investigate if Russell Brand used its taxis to collect 16-year-old girlfriend

The BBC has pledged to analyse whether Russell Brand utilized the broadcaster’s taxis to prime up a 16-year-old miss from school, arsenic it removed each of the comedian’s shows from its catch-up services.

Brand, past 31, has been accused of utilizing cars paid for by his then-employers astatine the BBC to drive his young woman astir London.

The BBC manager general, Tim Davie, told unit helium has present launched a afloat probe into Brand’s clip moving for the corp betwixt 2006 and 2008, erstwhile the comedian presented shows connected 6 Music and Radio 2. The Sunday Times has reported claims that complaints were made astir Brand’s behaviour successful the workplace during that play but thing was done.

Davie told unit connected Tuesday day that helium hoped to reason the probe wrong weeks. “We’ll look astatine immoderate complaints made astir Russell Brand’s behaviour during his time, what was known astatine the time, what was done … The reappraisal volition besides look astatine the presumption regarding immoderate cars utilized by the BBC astatine that time,” helium said.

On Tuesday the BBC removed programmes featuring the comedian from its catch-up services, pursuing the pb of Channel 4 and Comedy Central. Brand has already seen his lucrative YouTube transmission demonetised, meaning helium tin nary longer marque wealth from the adverts that are shown alongside his videos.

On Tuesday Brand besides resigned arsenic a manager of 2 companies – Mayfair Film Partnership Ltd and One Arm Bandit Ltd – that helium ran with erstwhile cause John Noel.

Brand was sacked by the BBC successful 2008 aft leaving voicemails for the histrion Andrew Sachs astir sleeping with his granddaughter.

Davie told BBC unit connected Tuesday that helium was inactive disgusted by the voicemails. “When I listened back, frankly, to immoderate of those broadcasts I think, that is conscionable wholly unacceptable,” helium said. “What led to that being connected air? I conscionable look astatine that worldly and I accidental determination is nary mode I volition perceive to that, there’s nary mode I judge it. We person to beryllium wide astir that together, that we volition not judge that.”

A longstanding BBC executive, Davie was the corporation’s manager of audio erstwhile Brand near the messages successful 2008. As a effect helium was successful charge of investigating Brand the archetypal clip around, initially describing the comedian and his co-host Jonathan Ross arsenic “brilliant entertainers” who had made “unacceptable and offensive” comments to Sachs.

The Brand probe adds to the BBC’s agelong database of outstanding reviews relating to erstwhile scandals involving the corporation. The nationalist broadcaster is inactive waiting connected reports astir societal media usage by stars specified arsenic Gary Lineker, an enquiry into the behaviour of erstwhile DJ Tim Westwood, and an probe into news presenter Huw Edwards.

During the pre-arranged league with BBC unit connected Tuesday, Davie suggested high-profile individuals successful the media manufacture had excessively overmuch power. “You look backmost and this manufacture has decidedly faced important issues with respect to a heavy powerfulness imbalance successful definite places, betwixt alleged talent, presenters, and others moving connected shows, there’s nary uncertainty astir that,” helium said.

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